Independent Living Skills with Executive Chef Kahlil Wyche

Trenton, NJ -- For the past four weeks, students from our Young Professionals Leadership Initiative have been working under the direction of Executive Chef Kahlil Wyche on the principles of proper food handling for the culinary industry and preparing healthy meals on a limited household budget. This week, they had a chance to put their training into practice by working collaboratively in the kitchen to prepare a complete meal including salad, entree, and a dessert.

The afternoon was spent continuing their studies on budgeting with a comprehensive session on "How Money Works" with certified financial advisor Wendy Walston. The interactive session focused on the Basics of Savings/Checking Accounts, Understanding Credit Cards, Compounding Interest, Starting Early with Retirement Savings, and The Rule of 72 which illustrates how money can double over time.

The day ended with a review of their final Video Resumes which were created for each student in preparation for their live job interviews with corporate partner AMC Theatres which will take place during our session next week.

Personal Branding Workshop w/ NSA President Kevin Thompson

Trenton, NJ - We're moving closer to the live job interviews for the participants of our Young Professionals Leadership Initiative. This week, Kevin Thompson, president of the National Speakers Association (NJ Chapter) and Distinguished Toastmaster, facilitated a workshop on Personal Branding.

Our team of facilitators then worked individually to help develop their own personal brand statements and conduct online background research on the interviewing company. They had an opportunity to put their statements immediately into practice during individual mock interviews with Mr. Thompson.

Executive Chef Kahlil Wyche continued his Independent Living Series with an introduction to general budgeting principles. The budgets will be used to help the participants develop a greater awareness of earning, managing, saving, and spending money.

We wrapped the day with a review of media terminology and crew positions as we plan for our annual Spring Film Screening (in collaboration with SCRA - Society for Community Resource & Action) on Sunday, May 18.     

BE Alum appears on Katie Couric Show

Anthony Weaver was 19 years old when he first stepped foot into a Beyond Expectations class. His wish to learn television and video production was granted by a phenomenal organization, One Simple Wish. As soon as walked through the door, we put a boom pole in his hands as we prepared for a mock segment we were planning to shoot at Riverview Studios, a state-of-the art television studio.

He's been with us every since.

Turns out Tony (or as we call him "Wolf") was a natural. After completing our Spring Boot Camp, he returned for our Summer program where he trained as an Intern sharing his new talents with a great group of teens at the Trenton YMCA Leaders in Training program. 

When the opportunity came his way to appear on the Katie Couric show with One Simple Wish founder, Danielle Gletow, he knew exactly what to do. He's since gone on to complete an internship at WPST radio and continues to be a part of our Beyond Expectations crew!

Hear Tony live >> 

Healthy Cooking and Nutrition with Executive Chef Kahlil Wyche

Trenton, NJ - The Young Professionals Leadership Initiative Spring Session continued with an independent living workshop on Healthy Cooking and Nutrition. Executive Chef Kahlil Wyche conducted a session focused on Sanitation and Pathogen Prevention. Students participated in an interactive exercise using their smartphones to identify food borne diseases. The session continued with Managing a Personal Hygiene Program and testing their knowledge of safe food handling under the ServSafe guidelines of the National Restaurant Association.

The rest of the session was spent working directly with Beyond Expectations facilitators, volunteers, and crew.

Students participated in a Skills Assessment exercise that was used to begin creating video resumes, then conducted online research in preparation for upcoming job interviews with a partner company.

The Spring Session will run through March 29 followed by a team community service project.